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Post by modteam on Jul 25, 2017 9:21:00 GMT
Chinchilla guidelines are currently very much under review and open for discussion.
We would like to state that at this moment the forum is in favour of solid floors for chinchillas for the majority of their running space and we could not recommend housing for chinchillas that is not at least as big as that recommended for degus, i.e. 12,500 square centimetres running space minimum for a single or pair.
We currently make no recommendations for diet and welcome all polite and well reasoned discussion on any diet topic and from any point of view.
Anything which could be interpretted as promotion of breeding is not encouraged on this forum. Threads about accidental litters or emergencies where help is sought are permitted and occasional incidental discussion may be allowed at the discretion of forum moderators.
Thank you.
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Post by darthchinchi on Jul 25, 2017 10:37:40 GMT
I would suggest guidelines to include something about them not being able to fall more than 50-60 cm. Maybe something about them being able to climb things like the wire mesh but not trying to make their cage into a climbing cage (some people never experience problems with this, others do however loose animals to fall accidents)
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Post by randomname on Jul 25, 2017 10:44:35 GMT
Good idea Darth. I'd also like to see some guidelines on wheels & toys at some point, but there's no hurry.
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Post by bouncy on Jul 25, 2017 10:50:31 GMT
As we expand our knowledge, and create stickies similar to those in the degu sections, we'll make sure stuff is included
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Post by moletteuk on Jul 25, 2017 11:25:50 GMT
Excellent. Yes, take that as officially endorsed that maximum drops in the cage should not exceed 50 to 60cm. I think we say 50cm for degus.
Please feel free to nudge the moderators and suggest things when any consensus seems to emerge or anything crops up that needs discussion or attention.
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Post by darthchinchi on Jul 25, 2017 12:49:49 GMT
As for wheeks it varies a bit. 30-35cm in diameter. Think the most common is to say 35 to avoid then getting back problems.
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Post by bouncy on Jul 25, 2017 13:04:17 GMT
The German site goes for a min 40cm, preferably 45cm upwards.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2017 13:11:35 GMT
All sources I've seen says 15 inches as a minimum, but it usually jumps in twos so perhaps 16 inches as a minimum. The 40-45cm sounds good to me.
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Post by randomname on Jul 25, 2017 13:19:17 GMT
I would also echo degu wheel advice - no mesh, no cross bars & no lumpy bit in the middle that makes them bend their backs. Personally I wouldn't use anything under 16" in size but maybe one or two inch smaller would be ok, I don't know.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2017 13:32:14 GMT
Metal, no plastic.
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Post by darthchinchi on Jul 25, 2017 13:56:55 GMT
I think my measurements might come from my preference in the saucer wheels.
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Post by darthchinchi on Jul 25, 2017 14:04:47 GMT
I think my measurements might come from my preference in the saucer wheels. No... I'm just wrong lol. Go with the 40cm minimum. My saucer wheel is 40cm. It is okay for saucer wheels to be smaller than a normal running wheel. There's more elaborate info on this site www.flyingsaucerwheels.com/ as to why this is. This is a great place to get wheels btw. I've added pictures of my wheel as well, just to show a different type. They are made by a German guy, don't know his name as the one importing them says he doesnt want to be known.
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Post by randomname on Jul 25, 2017 14:11:35 GMT
That's true across the board, saucers don't need to be as big as the other wheels. Good that you spotted that Darth I guess it also depends on how many animals are accessing it - my first colony of 5 degus used to love to run all together sometimes. I didn't know that until I got them a huge wheel from John Hopewell. It was deep too, so they could fit 3 side by side & one in front & one behind. Was hilarious watching them trying to all get in sync & get it moving, but once they did it was glorious. If there are 2 chins, might be better to go for a bigger wheel. Mine like to sit side by side on theirs so I'm glad I got a bigger one. Was only around £10 more than the next size down.
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Post by randomname on Jul 25, 2017 14:14:58 GMT
Saucers have to be even bigger than vertical wheels don't they? Degus do. Do they 'Em? I didn't know that. I always use the biggest ones anyway, but I thought the rat-size were ok for degus? But then, thinking about it, the wooden saucers always look big, but I thought that's just because the parts used were that size. Hmmmm today I learned. I don't have any success with saucers although I always offer the 2 types at first to see what is preferred. No one uses them really. Except to store poop on.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2017 14:27:46 GMT
I thought they did unless I'm muddled up.. we recommend 12 inch diameter for wheels as a minimum, I thought the minimum for saucers was around 15/16 inches?
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Post by randomname on Jul 25, 2017 14:29:07 GMT
you're probably right, my brain is on a go slow
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2017 14:30:13 GMT
No worries, I might be wrong?
So what size would a chinchilla need in the crooks of all that? If they need wheels a minimum of 15-16 inches.. their saucers would need to be bigger surely x
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Post by moletteuk on Jul 25, 2017 14:32:09 GMT
I think some places says saucers should be bigger than wheels and some say it is OK for them to be smaller.
I'm not comfortable with them smaller, I think a sideways twist on the spine is going to be more uncomfortable than a backwards one, and watching mine run on a good size saucer always looked more awkward than on any of the wheels I have had of various sizes.
I think 16" or 40cm sounds fair for wheels for now. Maybe we need to look into saucers a bit more.
Darth, can you try taking another photo, I can't really make out what I am seeing?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2017 17:29:12 GMT
Ohbgosh no. 14 inch is the absoloute minimum. I have seen spinal scolosis on chinchilla at 12 inches! For a larger chin 16 is thr minimum
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2017 17:34:20 GMT
Ad for 12500... that is 3 x 4 meters of floor space am i correct? That is a crazy amount of space and in my opinion crazy. You must realise chinchilla are cave dwellers between rocks and large spaces can terrify them unless introduced slowly... even then... i personally say 3x2 foot is ample for a pair of chins with shelves. Falls should be no more than 18 inches. Cages should contain nothing that will cause impactation in the gut-no plastic. No fabric beside fleece. No danged hay balls. No hamster balls. I would also like to point out a typical breeder birthing cage is 18x18 inches. I also believe playtime is dangerous and bonding should be done in the cage or on the human. Seen far too many dead chins as a result of playtime and hypoglycemia.
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